Authorities are investigating a Chicago funeral home after dozens of decomposing bodies were discovered on the property in what officials described as deplorable conditions, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
The discovery was made at a funeral home on the city's Southeast Side. Coroners are now working to identify the remains, which were found in a state of advanced decomposition, the BBC reports. The scale of the find has prompted a multi-agency response, with officials saying the number of bodies is in the dozens.
FOX 32 Chicago reports that relatives of the deceased have expressed deep distress over the situation. One family member quoted by the outlet said they are unsure whether the ashes they previously received from the funeral home were actually those of their loved one, raising the possibility that remains may have been mishandled over an extended period.
The funeral home's licenses have been suspended, according to NBC 5 Chicago, which reported that officials were "horrified" by the conditions found on site. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not yet released a timeline for when the identification process will be complete.
The case has also sparked broader commentary. The Chicago Tribune published an editorial reflecting on the incident, questioning what it described as a loss of collective reverence for death in modern society.
Authorities have not yet announced whether criminal charges will be filed, and it remains unclear how long the bodies had been stored at the facility. The identification of the remains is expected to be a lengthy process, and officials have urged families who used the funeral home to come forward with information.
